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Annual Week Six Holiday Shopping Slump Weighed Down by Declines

NPD Holiday Shopping Bag 2017 Weekly Report: Week 6

The week following Cyber Week, the traditional week six slump, took a deeper dive this year. Cumulatively, U.S. retail sales for the first six weeks of the 2017 holiday shopping season are even with last year across the key general merchandise categories in NPD’s Holiday Shopping Bag. So far, prestige beauty and small home appliances are the leaders of the season, each with cumulative dollar sales gains just shy of 10 percent.

Week Ending December
9, 2017

Overall Performance

Dollar sales in the first full week of December 2017 were 7 percent lower than during the same week in 2016.

Prestige Beautywas the leader this week, continuing to show growth while all other segments tracked saw some level of declines, as steep as low-double digits.

Top Performing Categories

Home Automation (driven by Security & Monitoring, Power & Sensors)

Stereo Headphones

Video Cards

Home Environment Appliances (driven by Specialty Cleaning)

Facial Skincare

“The season has been a mess of inconsistencies, from seemingly universal apparel promotions and novelties like ‘ugly’ sweaters, faux fur, and hats with earflaps emerging as the season’s standouts, to an implied focus on self-gifting with make-up, skincare, and innovative products for the home leading Holiday 2017,” said NPD’s Chief Industry Advisor, Marshal
Cohen. “The season’s crunch-time will likely bring some lift in sales, especially as consumers take advantage of the extra full weekend of shopping before Christmas for last-minute gifts.”